WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
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SPORTS: All-conference players announced. PAGE 11
Voter engagement strong Election results BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Local voter engagement was strong in the 2018 midterm election. The Polk County clerk’s office reported hearing from clerks around Polk County that turnout was higher than expected. In the Village of Osceola, the count of 1,017 voters was closer to the 2016 general election’s 1,203 voters than the 2014 midterm’s 779. In the Town of Osceola, the 2018 midterm drew 1,340 to the polls. The 2014 midterm brought in 1,114 and the 2016 presidential election, 1,628. The use of absentee ballots has also
to community services, provide case management and support with a special focus on treatment and recovery. He has an office in Superior, but is rarely able to spend time in it. He spends his days working directly with veterans throughout his region, which includes Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, Polk, Barron and Rusk counties. Through the VORP, Veterans can receive crisis services in addition to on-the-street case management in order
Polk County’s UW-Extension announced new outreach and education staff last week. Over the past several months, members of the county’s Environmental Services Committee and the interim county administrator have worked with area Extension director Kristen Bruder to identify the best ways to use Extension resources in Polk County, deciding on several positions shared with surrounding counties. Agriculture Extension Educator Becky Schley will serve Barron and Polk counties as the Extension’s agriculture educator. Her main office will be in Barron County. Schley grew up on a dairy farm in Gilman, Wisconsin, where she was a member of the Poplar Grove 4-H club and showed dairy cattle. Schley’s educational background includes a bachelor of science in broad area agriculture. She has 10 years of experience working with Genex as a regional service coordinator and reproductive consultant. For the last five years, she was the UW Agricultural Supervisor at the UW-River Falls, Mann Valley Lab Farm. Her work experiences have taught her how to implement farm protocols to help increase profitability and efficiency. Schley will define her plan of work after meeting with community members to help determine priority programming. “I like to solve problems, build relationships and am excited to start working hard to serve Barron and Polk Counties,” Schley reported. Outreach Specialist Eric Biltonen will work in Polk and St. Croix counties, focusing on organizational development, strategic planning, group facilitation, and economic development issues. Biltonen has been living in Wisconsin for over four years, previously having spent time in
SEE OUTREACH, PAGE 9
SEE EXTENSION, PAGE 8
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
In line to vote in Osceola, from right: Van Burch, William Reiter, Caroll Ebert and Bob Schmidt.
SEE ELECTION, PAGE 9
Recipients sought for Blessing Baskets The Christmas Blessing Baskets and Toys 4 Kids program is taking names of families who may need help this holiday season. Six local churches, the staff and students from Osceola School District and community members who sponsor a family, join together with Toys 4 Kids
sponsored by MidwestOne Bank to help provide Christmas for those in need. These families receive a food gift certificate, a new clothing item, socks, hats and gloves and diapers. MidwestOne, through local businesses and community donations, provides the toys.
If you know of a family who is in need this year please call Rosanne Anderson at 294-4357. Please leave your name, phone number and Anderson will contact you. Organizers would appreciate referrals as soon as possible to ensure a basket. All calls are kept confidential.
Veterans outreach and recovery program expands BY WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul Huber goes to work e every day with one mission: a assist Veterans in need. Serving in the Wiscons Army National Guard sin a being deployed to Iraq, and H Huber’s experiences haven’t o only prepared him with a certain mentality, but his service helps him bond with and gain the trust of veterans in suffering from mental health or abuse issues.
“As a young child, I would go to my father’s medical appointment with him at the VA Medical Clinics, which helped me learn very quickly the sacrifices that these veterans made for us and our country,” he said. “As a Veteran who served in Iraq, I want to make sure that we assist fellow Vets to get the help they may need.” Huber is the Region 4 coordinator of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program. Coordinators like Huber work throughout the state to connect veterans
County’s UW-Extension introduces new educators
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